MR. HICKOX
It was Mr. Hickox who was at the door. By a winding path he had pushed
his cart full of luggage up the hill, and now expressed his willingness
to deposit the goods where they belonged.
The big man seemed to think nothing of carrying the trunks, one after
another, up to the bedrooms; and meantime the children carried the
provisions to the kitchen.
Although Dorothy was nominally housekeeper, and wanted to assume entire
charge of all household arrangements, Grandma Dorrance had a long and
serious talk with Mr. Hickox regarding ways and means.
It was most satisfactory; for whenever any apparent difficulty arose,
the kind-hearted man summarily disposed of it by waving his hand and
remarking: "Don't worry. Hickox'll look after things. It'll be all
right!"
So convincing was his attitude that Mrs. Dorrance at last felt satisfied
that there were no serious obstacles in their path; and like the
sensible lady she was, she determined to let Dorothy have full power and
manage her new home in any way she saw fit.
Dorothy's nature was, perhaps, a little over-confident. She was not
inclined to hesitate at anything; indeed, the more difficult the
undertaking, the greater her determination to succeed.
And so, when Mrs. Dorrance informed Mr. Hickox that Miss Dorothy was the
housekeeper, and was in authority, Dorothy rose to the occasion and
assumed at once a certain little air of dignity and responsibility that
sat well upon her.
She, too, was encouraged by Mr. Hickox's continued assertions that it
would be all right.
She learned from him that the nearest place where they might buy
provisions was Woodville, where a certain Mr. Bill Hodges kept a store.
His wares included everything that a country store usually deals in,
"and Bill himself," said Mr. Hickox, "is just the cleverest man in these
parts."
"How do we get there?" asked Leicester, who had declared his willingness
to consider going to market as part of his share of the work.
"Well, there're several ways. Haven't got a horse, have you?" Mr. Hickox
said this casually, as if he thought Leicester might have one in his
pocket.
"No," said Leicester; "we don't own a horse. Is it too far to walk?"
"No; 'tain't any too much of a sprint for young legs like yours. It's
two miles around by the road and over the bridge. But it's only a mile
across by the boat."
"But we haven't any boat."
"Haven't any boat! well I should say you had. Why there is half-a-dozen
rowboats belongs to this hotel; and a catboat too, and a sneak-box,--my
land! you've got everything but a steamboat."
"And Captain Kane said we could use his steamboat," cried Dorothy,
gleefully; "so we've really got a whole navy at our disposal!"
"So you have, so you have," agreed Mr. Hickox, rubbing his long hands
together, in a curious way he had; "and don't you worry. Whenever you
want anything that you can't get with your navy, Hickox'll look after
it. It'll be all right!"
"Do you live near here, Mr. Hickox?" asked Lilian.
"Well, yes, miss. Just a piece up the road. And if you want some nice
fresh garden truck, now and then,--just now and then;--we haven't got
enough to supply you regular."
"We'll be very glad to have it, whenever you can spare it," said
Dorothy; "I'll send for it."
"Well, no, Miss Dorothy. I'd some rather you wouldn't send for it. You
see Mrs. Hickox she's apt to--to be surprised at anything like that."
"Oh, very well," said Dorothy; "bring it whenever it's convenient. We're
always glad of fresh vegetables. And eggs,--do you have eggs?"
"Now and again,--just now and again. But when we have them to spare I'll
bring 'em. It'll be all right. Now I must jog along; Mrs. Hickox will be
surprised if I don't get home pretty soon."
"One thing more, Mr. Hickox," said Mrs. Dorrance. "Are there ever any
burglars or marauders around this neighborhood?"
"Land, no, ma'm! Bless your heart, don't you worry a mite! Such a thing
was never heard of in these parts. Burglars! ho, ho, well I guess not!
Why I've never locked my front door in my life, and I never knew anybody
around here that did."
After Mr. Hickox's departure, Leicester observed thoughtfully, "What a
very surprisable woman Mrs. Hickox seems to be."
"Yes," agreed Dorothy; "I'm anxious to see her. I think I'd like to
surprise her a few times."
"Well, he's a nice man," said Lilian; "I like him."
"Yes, he is nice," said Leicester; "and isn't that jolly about the
boats? I'm going right out to hunt them up."
"Hold on, my First Gold-Stick-In-Waiting," said Dorothy; "I think you
promised to make a kitchen fire."
"Sure enough, Major-domo," returned Leicester, gaily; "I'll do that in a
jiffy. Where's the kindling-wood?"
"Where's the kindling-wood, indeed," returned Dorothy; "_you_'re to make
the fire, and you're also to make the kindling-wood, and the paper and
the matches! I'm not employing assistants who don't assist."
"All right, my lady. I'll make your fire, even if I have to split up
that big settle for fire-wood."
With a wild whoop, Leicester disappeared in the direction of the
kitchen.
"Oh, grannymother," cried Dorothy, "isn't it splendid that we can make
just as much noise as we want to! Now you sit right here on the veranda,
and enjoy the view; and don't you budge until you're called to supper."
And with another war-whoop scarcely less noisy than her brother's,
Dorothy went dancing through the big rooms, followed by her two
sisters.
When she reached the kitchen, she found a fine fire blazing in the
range.
Leicester sat on the settle, with his hands in his pockets, and wearing
a complacent air of achievement.
"Anything the matter with that fire?" he inquired.
"How did you ever do it in such a minute?" cried his twin, gazing
admiringly at her brother.
"Magic," said Leicester.
"Magic in the shape of Tessie," said Dorothy, laughing, as the
good-natured Irish girl appeared from the pantry.
"Right you are," said Leicester; "that's Tessie's own fire. And she
didn't have to split up the furniture, for she says there's lots of wood
and coal in the cellar."
"Well, did you ever!" cried Dorothy; "I wouldn't be a bit surprised to
learn that there was a gold mine in the parlor, or a pearl fishery up in
the tower."
"I'd rather learn that there is something to eat somewhere," said
Leicester; "I'm simply starving. What's the use of three sisters if
they can't get a fellow some supper?"
"That's so," agreed Dorothy; "and we all must go right to work. You
can't help with this part, Leicester. You skip away now, your turn will
come later. Now girls," she went on, as Leicester vanished, not without
the usual accompaniment of an ear-splitting yell, "we're going to have
an awful lot of fun; and we can make just as much noise and racket as we
please; but all the same there's a lot of work to be done, and we're
going to do it, and do it properly. It's a great deal easier if we have
system and method, and so we'll divide up the work and each of us must
do our own part, and do it thoroughly and promptly."
"Hear, hear!" cried Lilian, who adored her older sister, and was more
than willing to obey her commands.
"What can I do?" screamed Fairy, who was dancing round and round the
kitchen, perching now on the window-seat, now on the table, and now on
the back or arm of the old settle.
"We must each have our definite work," went on Dorothy, who was herself
sitting on the back of a chair with her feet on the wooden seat. "Tessie
will have her share, but she can't do everything. So there's plenty for
us to do. Grandma is not to do a thing, that's settled. If four women
and a man can't take care of one dear old lady, it's high time they
learned how."
As the youngest of the four "women" was just then clambering up the
cupboard shelves, and singing lustily at the top of her voice, some
people might have thought that the dear old lady in question had an
uncertain outlook. But Dorothy was entirely undisturbed by the attitudes
of her audience, and continued her discourse.
"I shall do the cooking,--that is, most of it. I'm a born cook, and I
love it; besides I want to learn, and so I'm going to try all sorts of
dishes, and you children will have to eat them,--good or bad."
"I like to make cake and fancy desserts," said Lilian.
"All right, you can make them. And I'll make croquettes and omelets, and
all sorts of lovely things, and Tessie can look after the boiling of
the potatoes and vegetables, and plain things like that. You haven't had
much experience in cooking, have you, Tessie?"
"No, Miss Dorothy; but I'm glad to learn, and I'll do just whatever you
tell me."
"Fairy can set the table, and help with the dusting. We girls will each
take care of our own rooms, and Tessie can take care of Leicester's.
I'll attend to grandma's room myself."
"Let me help with that," said Lilian.
"Yes, we'll all help; and we'll keep the parlors tidy, and Tessie can
wash the dishes and look after the dining-room and kitchen. Leicester
can help with the out-of-door work; the grass ought to be mowed and the
paths kept in order. But good gracious! none of this work is going to
amount to much. If we're spry, we can do it all up in less than no time,
and have hours and hours left every day to play, and read, and go out on
the lake, and tramp in the woods, and just enjoy ourselves. Oh, isn't it
great!" and jumping to the floor with a bang, Dorothy seized the hands
of the others, and in a moment all four were dancing around in a ring,
while the three Dorrance voices loudly proclaimed that there was no
place like home.
Tessie had begun to grow accustomed to the boisterous young people, and
as she thought everything they did was nothing short of perfection, she
readily adapted herself to her own part.
"What about the laundry-work, Miss Dorothy?" she asked.
"Why, I don't know," said Dorothy. "I hadn't really thought of that. I
wonder if we can find a laundress anywhere around. We must ask Mr.
Hickox."
"Now, Miss Dorothy, if you'll let me, I'm just sure I can do the washing
and ironing. With all these beautiful tubs and things, it'll be no
trouble at all, at all."
"Why if you could, Tessie, that would be fine. Let me see, we won't have
many white dresses or fancy things, but there'll be lots of sheets and
table linen. You know we're a pretty big family."
"Yes, miss; but I'm sure I can do it all. I'm strong, and I'm a good
washer."
"Well, we'll try it, anyway," said Dorothy, "and see how you get along.
We girls will help a little more with your work on Mondays and Tuesdays,
and then I think it will all come out right."
Dorothy was a singular mixture of capability and inconsequence.
Her power of quick decision, and her confidence in her own ability, made
her words a little dictatorial; but the gentleness of her nature, and
the winning smile which accompanied her orders took from them any touch
of unpleasant authority. Dorothy's whole attitude was one of good
comradeship, and though much given to turbulent demonstration of her joy
of living, she was innately of an equable temperament and had never been
known to lose her temper.
Lilian, on the other hand, was more excitable, and more prone to hasty
decisions which were afterwards rejected or revised. Lilian could get
very angry upon occasion, but she had a fine sense of justice; and if
she found herself in the wrong, she was more than ready to confess it
and to make amends. The two girls really exercised a good influence over
one another, and the bonds of affection between them were very strong.
Indeed the four Dorrances were a most loyal quartet; and though they
teased each other, and made fun of each other, it was always in an
honest good-humored spirit that was quite willing to take as much as it
gave.